NFL Hall-of-Famer, filmmakers to host Q&A after UW football film premieres in Gig Harbor
A film about a legendary football coach will premiere at the Gig Harbor Film Festival this Thursday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and former NFL player Warren Moon, according to a festival news release.
“The Dawgfather: The Legacy of Don James” is a 56-minute documentary directed by Kent Loomer about the famous University of Washington football coach who guided the Huskies to four Rose Bowl victories and an undefeated national championship season in 1992. James coached the Huskies from 1975-1992 and coached at Kent State from 1971-1974, according to the National Football Foundation.
The film is about more than sports, according to a synopsis on the film’s official website. Don James based his coaching philosophy on values of integrity, family and giving back to one’s community.
“The most impactful of these lessons was the belief that: ‘Your legacy is not what you do, but rather what you empower others to do,’” the synopsis says.
When the idea for the film was pitched to him, writer and director Kent Loomer “wasn’t interested at all in making a biopic about a coach who won a bunch of football games,” he told The News Tribune. It was James himself, a private man who didn’t seek attention for himself but was committed to doing the “right thing and not the easy thing,” that inspired him.
James’ influence lives on in the former players and coaching staff interviewed for the film — even in things like their timely attendance to meetings, according to Loomer.
“Anyone who has anything to do with Don James is not late,” he said. “It’s something that was highly valued as part of his program, and to this day, they’re never late.”
Warren Moon played under James and later went on to play for NFL teams including the Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs, according to his profile in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Former Seattle sportscaster Keith Shipman will host the Q&A with Moon and the film’s creative team, according to the news release. Gig Harbor Film Festival Executive Director Pamela Holt told The News Tribune via email that other “high-profile guests from the Don James era” will also be attending the screening, including former Husky player Sonny Sixkiller.
Loomer told The News Tribune that other players have said they will attend the screening, subject to availability. These include former Huskies Mark Bruener, Lonzell Hill, Dave Christensen — who is flying up from Arizona — and Lynn Madsen. Madsen has invited other teammates he played with as well, according to Loomer.
The world premiere will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Galaxy IMAX Theatre in Uptown Gig Harbor on Sept. 26, opening night of the festival. A second showing will be at 8:35 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. The full list of films and showings is available online on the film festival website.
The Gig Harbor Film Festival runs from Sept. 26-29 at the Galaxy Theatres. It’s the festival’s 17th year. To access all 85 films and the Awards Ceremony, you can purchase General Admission Passes for $50 each in-person at the the Galaxy Theatres or online at www.gigharborfilm.org. VIP Passes are $400 each.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with more information about the players who may appear at the screening and the director’s inspiration for the film.
This story was originally published September 25, 2024 at 10:28 AM.
